SHANGHAI: The synchronised swimming competition starting at the World Championships here today will be a good gauge to see whether Malaysia have what it takes to fight for a place in next year’s London Olympics.
Sukma (Malaysia Games) gold medallist Katrina Ann Hadi is down to perform in the solo technical preliminary in the morning today and will return to partner Shareen Png for the duet technical preliminary later in the day.
Katrina and Shareen will also compete in the team event with Lee Yhing Huey, Xyanne Lee, Emanuelle Mah Thil Da, Tan May Mei, Mandy Yeap, Yeo Pei Ling and Tasha Jane.
“Olympic places are not up for grabs here. There will be a qualification tournament in London in April next year. But we want to see how we perform here as the results will indicate where we stand,” said coach Long Yan, a Chinese in charge of the Bukit Jalil-based synchronised swimming squad.
He believes Malaysia’s best chance of making the grade for the Olympics lies in the duet discipline.
“The solo event is not contested in the Olympics but the duet and team disciplines are.
“We are still relatively new in the team competition compared to the established teams in Asia like Japan and China.
“But I believe we have a chance to prepare the duet pair to fight for a place in the Olympics if they perform well this week,” added Long Yan.
The synchronised swimmers are also using the championships to gauge their form ahead of the Indonesia SEA Games in November.
Synchronised swimming will make a return as a medal sport at the SEA Games after a decade-long absence. Five gold medals will be on offer in Palembang.
Malaysia made a clean sweep of the gold medals when the sport was last held in 2001.
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